Breaking Barriers: How Lida Hakobyan Built a $5 Million Freight Business as a Woman in Trucking

In this episode of the Trucking for Millennials podcast, we had the pleasure of welcoming back Lida Hakobyan, an inspiring entrepreneur in the logistics industry. Lida's journey from Armenia to the United States in 2016, and her subsequent rise in the trucking and freight brokering business, is nothing short of remarkable. We began the episode by acknowledging the recent natural disasters affecting various parts of the United States, including hurricanes and wildfires. Our thoughts are with those impacted, and we hope for their safety and recovery. Lida shared her story of moving to the U.S., earning her CDL, and starting her career as a truck driver. She recounted the challenges she faced, from learning the terminology to navigating narrow roads with a 53-foot trailer. Despite these hurdles, Lida's determination and hard work paid off, allowing her to transition into freight brokering and eventually founding her own company, Freight Freedom. Throughout our conversation, Lida emphasized the importance of perseverance, optimism, and leveraging one's strengths. She discussed the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry and how her experience behind the wheel has given her a unique perspective and empathy for truck drivers. Lida also highlighted the significance of building relationships with both customers and carriers, and how her multilingual skills have been an asset in her business. She shared insights into the issues of double brokering and the importance of thorough vetting and communication to avoid such pitfalls. In addition to her freight brokering business, Lida has created educational resources and courses to help others succeed in the logistics industry. Her Freight Freedom Club offers a wealth of knowledge, from logistics terminology to sales scripts, and provides a supportive community for aspiring freight brokers. Lida's story is a testament to the opportunities available in the United States and the power of hard work and dedication. Her positive outlook and commitment to helping others make her a true inspiration in the logistics industry.